Semantics of Senate Bill 5

August 7, 2011

Opponents of Ohio's new collective bargaining law, commonly referred to as Senate Bill 5, the legislation that created the rules, got a win last week.

They got the language they wanted when the question to repeal the law is presented to voters as Issue 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot.

A ''no'' vote will be a vote to reject the law that weakens public union workers' ability to collectively bargain, while a ''yes'' vote will uphold the law, Ohio's bi-partisan Ballot Board determined with ballot language that reads: ''Shall the law be approved?''

Proponents of the new law argued that a ''yes'' vote should favor repeal and a ''no'' vote to oppose the repeal.

The wording gives opponents an advantage.

Political expert Bill Binning, professor and chair emeritus with Youngstown State University's political science department, said although the thought of having an advantage with a no vote isn't grounded in solid political science theory, it's thought regardless that a no vote gives the upper hand.

''Urban legend is a 'no' vote is of great advantage because if people who are uncertain, not clear, not totally convinced, what is the easiest thing to do? Vote no,'' Binning said.

Plus, Binning said, the burden is heavier on Republicans and other proponents to make the case the law is a good one, whereas Democrats and other opponents only need to raise reasonable doubt.

Democratic precinct committee members in Trumbull and Mahoning counties have a busy week ahead.

First in Trumbull, they meet to pick a replacement for ex-engineer David DeChristofaro, who resigned and then pleaded guilty to theft and conflict-of-interest charges stemming from using his public office for personal and political purposes.

Competing for that spot Tuesday night are Randy Smith of Hartford and Gary Taneri of Warren.

The game of musical chairs continues the next night in Mahoning County.

There, they will be filling two vacancies created by Jay Williams' departure to Washington, D.C., where he's joining President Barack Obama's administration as the U.S. ''auto czar,'' plus an opening on city council in Struthers.

Here's what happened in the county to the south.

Chuck Sammarone, city council president, assumed the position of Youngstown mayor (his first day was Tuesday) and brought along second ward councilman DeMaine Kitchen to be chief of staff.

And when Sammarone departed the leader's post, third ward councilman Jamal Tito Brown became president.

That leaves central committee members in wards two and three to pick successors for Kitchen and Brown to fill their unexpired terms.

That's not all.

Committee members will be picking replacements to appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot in those races, too.

The same thing is happening in Struthers. Committee members there will be picking a ballot replacement for the at-large city council seat, formerly held by Dan Yemma, who resigned when he was named interim Mahoning County treasurer and then withdrew from the ballot after he was named treasurer, succeeding Lisa Antonini.